Summary of a Bible Study in Aalesund—July 14, 1916

Summary of a Bible Study in Aalesund—July 14, 1916

“Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: ‘To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart.’” Prov. 8:1-5.

If wisdom lifts up her voice in the streets, in the houses and in the gates, why do so few people find her? When she cries out, why is her voice not heard? Does wisdom cry out? No, but folly cries out, and the louder it shouts, the louder wisdom calls out her warning so that folly will be exposed for what it is.

If you see a proud man or woman in the streets, wisdom whispers in your ear, “Don’t be like that!” If you see an intoxicated person staggering along, wisdom tells you it is foolishness. You hear an inexperienced person speaking as if he is the only one who knows anything; wisdom speaks in your heart that this is arrogance. Wherever folly and stupidity are displayed or heard, wisdom cries out a strong warning.

People ask, “How can I get wisdom?” It is not wisdom to ask such a question. The voice of wisdom speaks to you about folly. If you allow yourself to be chastised by wisdom and obey her voice, then you have wisdom.

“Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.” Prov. 8:6-9.

Wisdom speaks naturally and in purity. Wisdom will expose crooked things for what they are. She will show perverse things as perverse. Because of this, folly considers wisdom to be headstrong. Wisdom is natural and straightforward. By her very nature she exposes the unnatural and perverse nature of folly. Does that make her headstrong and difficult to deal with?

“Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold . . . .” Prov. 8:10. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion.” Prov. 8:12. Wisdom is prudent in her very nature; she is full of conviction. By searching in her treasury, she is able, through past experiences, to find good counsel for doing the things that are yet to be done.

“By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.” Prov. 8:15. Kings have their counselors. When a king has to make a decision about something, he calls in his advisors. If he is a wise ruler, he will follow the simplest and wisest advice.

“I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.” Prov. 8:20-21. Christ, who is the wisdom of God, walked in the center of the way of righteousness. When, according to God’s will, His time was at hand, He set His face toward Jerusalem. He stood before Pilate, triumphant over the judgment of death—indeed, over death itself. He did not fear the one who had the power to kill His body. He did not open His mouth to speak flattering words, even though Pilate would have liked to release Him. In the midst of this temptation, He submitted Himself to the power that was given Pilate from above. He walked right into death while walking in the midst of the path of righteousness. He did this so that everyone who wants to follow Him can inherit true riches and a full treasury.

James says that if any man lacks wisdom, let him pray to God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it shall be given to him. But he must pray in faith without doubting.

Perhaps you have often prayed for wisdom, but the more you have prayed, the more you have seen your own folly and that of the others. We must understand that this is the way wisdom works.

Take a walk down Main Street one evening and consider the vanity you see—how people dress and how they conduct themselves. Look at the folly. Is this hard to understand? You say, “All I see is folly!” Fine. Do not be afraid. Just look it in the eyes. Let wisdom instruct you and obey her.

How else could God display His wisdom if it were not through folly? Can you tell me that? “For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?” Rom. 3:7.

“When He prepared the heavens, I was there, when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command . . . then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him . . . .” Prov. 8:27-30.

Christ, the wisdom of God; through Him and for Him all things are created. All things are created by Him, and He has made all of it to be natural. Everything that is unnatural and false has been fostered by the devil, who introduced these things after wisdom had already declared everything to be very good.

Not only are we created by Him, we are also created for Him.

Return, you children of men, return and let yourselves be led on the paths of righteousness. “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin . . . .” Prov. 7:4. You will be bound by Him, to Him.

Folly and stupidity are driven away as the mist, and they will be found no more.

“God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” Eccl. 7:29. The Spirit of wisdom exposes folly so it can be recognized as folly. So when this enemy of wisdom lies there, exposed and exhausted, wisdom remains natural and pure, a creative force that does everything very well.

“And my delight was with the sons of men. Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.” Never again ask, “How can I get wisdom? Or, by what sign can I know that I have wisdom?”

The wisdom of God enables you to recognize folly and trace its path back to the vain counsels of the heart. When God opens your eyes so you are able to see folly for what it is, do not say to Him, “I asked for wisdom and you have shown me folly.” When the eye is able to see evil and the ear is able to hear it, it evokes God’s hatred in the heart. When this hatred becomes perfect, it brings death over all folly, and wisdom stands triumphant. By this wisdom all principalities and powers will be destroyed, and everything that has been created by wisdom will be returned to wisdom to be ruled by her.

“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Prov. 8:34.

People usually want to be happy. If that is your desire, watch for wisdom daily and devote your heart to understanding. Exercise yourself when you walk in the streets, when you are at home and wherever you go to recognize and label folly as the sheer madness that it is. And do not forget in the process to recognize and label your own folly, because the beginning of wisdom is to learn to recognize your own depravity.

Beware of the doctrine that tells you that wisdom is the knowledge of your own goodness, holiness, sufficiency and worthiness. Wisdom is herself good, holy, sufficient and worthy, and for that reason she banishes all worthiness that has its root in the flesh, so that she herself can create God’s goodness, holiness, sufficiency and worthiness.

“But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” Prov. 8:36. If you fail to obtain wisdom, you may still be saved, though it will be through fire. Your building will be of wood, hay and straw, which cannot tolerate the fire. In such a condition, you will never be able to reign with Christ, He who guides everything by wisdom. Hating wisdom is the same as loving death, for someone who hates wisdom will not allow Christ to rule over him.

“The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.” Prov. 3:35.